Seating structures



1959 I G- R. CHERVENKA 2,870,492 1 SEATING STRUCTURES Filed April 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

if GEORGE R. CHERVENKA W 7/ BY Jan. 27, 1959 G.R. CHERVENKA 2,870,492

SEATING STRUCTURES Filed April 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE R. CHERVENKA United States Patent 2,870,492 SEATING. STRUCTURES George R. Chervenka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Fred Medart Manufacturing Co.,' St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application April 6, 1953, Serial No. 346,870 14 Claims. (Cl. 20-1126) This invention relates in general to seating structures and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in seating structures of the type commonly referred to as telescopic bleachers for use in auditoriums, gymnasiums and the like.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a telescopic bleacher which may be opened or closed with ease, facility and convenience and, when opened, affords tiered seating arrangements for a large number ofpeople.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a telescopic bleacher of the type stated which may be constructed and installed with a minimum amount of labor and which may be fabricated from a relatively small number of differently sized standard parts and components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a seating structure which, both in its opened and in its telescoped positions, affords a completely integrated rigid structure capable of supporting a relatively large number of spectators, but, nevertheless, when unloaded, will impose a minimum amount of dead-weight against the gymnasium floor as it is rolled to-and-fro thereover from opened to telescoped position. I

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2 of a telescopic bleacher constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, the structure being shown in opened or so-called un- Y folded position;

Figures 2, 3, and 4, are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of 'Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail of construction with reference to the under-frame carriage forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the telescopic bleacher or seating structure includes a main or rear upright frame 1 consisting of a suitable plurality of transversely spaced oblong rectangular panels 2, each, in turn, including a pair of spaced parallel vertical posts 3, 4, formed preferably of angle section and being cross-connected at their upper ends by means of a connecting plate 5. Adjacent their lower ends, the posts 3, 4, are

cross-connected by a formed channel plate 6 which is welded, riveted, or otherwise rigidly attached thereto.

.A similarly shaped channel plate 7 is bolted or otherwise ice rigidly secured upon the rearwardly presented flange of the back post member 4 for welded connection to a U-shaped transversely extending tie channel 8, which serves as a cross-connecting tie member between the several panels 2. The posts 3 are likewise cross-connected by an angle member 8a.

Mounted upon the upper end of, and extending horizontally between the panels 2, is a seatboard 9 and similarly mounted directly beneath, and extending along, the seatboard 9 is a fascia board 10. At their lower ends, each of the panels 2 is rigidly welded to a horizontal foot-forming frame 11 which is adapted to rest directly upon the gym floor so that, when each of the panels 2 is rigidly attached to a conventional gymnasium wall or similar masonry structure B, by means pin guide g, to each of the panels 2, in downwardly spaced relation to the seatboard 9, is a forwardly extending horizontal element or beam 13 having a fiat horizontal top flange 14 and being integrally provided along its lower margin with a laterally projecting enlarged bead-flange 15 for slidable track-forming engagement within a slide-fitting 16, which is, in turn, rigidly welded to the upper end of an auxiliary panel section 2 of an upright frame F, the latter including two spaced parallel vertical posts 3, 4', substantially similar to the previously described posts 3', 4, and, in turn, likewise, connected by a formed channel plate 6'. The beam 13 is biased upwardly by means of a spring s. Welded to and extending upwardly from the forward end of the beam 13 is a seat-mounting plate 17 for supporting a seatboard 9' and a fascia board 10, the latter being substantially similar to the previously described seatboard 9 and fascia board 10. Also'bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the upper flange located below and between the seatboards 9, 9', is a footboard 18. Thus, when the seating structure is in operative use, a spectator may be seated upon the seatboard 9 and rest his feet upon the footboard 18 directly below and in front of the fascia board 10, the proportion of these members being such as to form a comfortable seat for the average adult. It will, of course, be understood in this connection that these seat dimensions are ordinarily used in gymnasiums associated with high schools, junior colleges and similar institutions where young men and women and adults will constitute the body of spectators. If the seating structure is designed for use in elementary or primary schools where children will be the spectators,-it is possible to make the dimensions of the entire structure somewhat smaller to accommodate the smaller users.

Each of the panels 2 corresponds to one of the panels 2 and there are, of course, a similar plurality of such panels 2', each being provided with a channel plate 7 and cross-connected by a tie channel 8 in the same manner that the panels 2 are cross-connected by the tie channel 8. At their lower ends, each of the Vertical posts 3, 3', are welded rigidly to a horizontal downwardly opening U-shaped channel member 19 and the connection therewith is reinforced by means of an angular arm 20 in the provision of an under frame carriage generally designated by the reference numeral 21, thereby forming a first sliding or telescoping tier T which can be shifted inwardly toward the wall B in vertically aligned underlying relation to the main seating tier A.

As will be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 2, the telescopic bleacher of the present invention consists of a plurality of substantially identical tiers T, each consisting of a plurality of upright frames F including laterally aligned panels 2' formed by vertical posts 3', 4',

14 of the beam 13 and Y and having a seatboard 9', a fascia board 10', and a footbo'ard 18, all supported upon an under frame 21 and laterally connected by tie channels 8 and angle members 8a. Each tier T may include any number of laterally spaced panels 2, depending upon the length of the seating structure and, similarly, any number of tiers T may be employed depending upon the number of seats desired and the height to which the structure is to be carried. There is, of course, a reasonable and practical limit of height, but in actual installations, it has been found that it is possible to fabricate s tures of the present invention with at least as many as twenty-one tiers T rising to an overall height at the wall of approximately nineteen feet.

Each of the channel members 19 includes spaced parallel side flanges 22, 23, which are respectively provided with pairs of longitudinally spaced angularly disposed slots 24, the slots 24 in the flange 22 being respectively aligned transversely with the slots 24 of the flange 23 for receiving the opposite end of shafts 25, extending horizontally therebetween and fixed in the side walls 26, 27 of a U-shaped channel member 28 mounted in upturned relation and sized for slidable disposition within the channel member 19. The channel 28 is recessed at its end in the region of the shafts for accommodating rollers 29 which are journaled upon the shafts 25 and depend from the channel 28 for engagement with the floor when the channel 28 is in downwardly shifted position. Internally, the channel is rigidly provided with an angular bracket plate 343 having an inclined side face 31 which is, in turn, provided with an upstruck dimple 32 for retentively seated engagement in the lower end of a strong compression spring 33. At its other end, the spring 33 is similarly retentively seated around a similar dimple 31 formed in a second bracket plate bolted or otherwise rigidly mounted upon the forwardly presented vertical face of the adjacent post 3. Thus, the entire frame F is normally urged upwardly by the spring 33 and is thus carried across the floor by the rollers 29. However, when appreciable weight, such as the weight of a spectator, is brought to bear on the structure, the effect of the several springs 33 will be offset and the entire structure will shift a short distance downwardly with respect to the rollers 29 and come to rest immovably in stationary position upon the floor, so that the weight of the spectators will, thus, be carried through the posts 3', 4', into the channel member 19 and directly to the floor. For transmitting this load to the floor, the channel member 19 is provided with a transversely extending floor-engaging pad or plate 34, i

which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the channel member 19 in downwardly spaced relation to the channe 28.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the laterally presented outer face of each side flange 22 is an outwardly and downwardly presented longitudinal slidefiange 35 and upon the oppositely presented outer face of the side flange 23 is an upturned engagement ear 36, the latter being so arranged as to be slidably engaged within the depending slide-flange 35 of the next adjacent under carriage 21. In final assembly, each channel member 19 is provided with a short locking plate 37 which extends outwardly above the ear 36 for preventing vertical shifting movement of adjacent under frame carriages 21 after the slide-flanges 35 have been engaged within the ears 36. As a resultof this structure, each of the under frame carriages 21 will be slidably engaged with all adjacent under frame carriages 21 in any vertical panel of the structure and will thus be prevented from lateral displacement with respect to each other in all positions of the bleacher.

The forwardmost section or unit of the bleacher is provided with a transversely extending horizontal L- channel 38which extends transversely across the several aligned panels 2' of such lowermost section or tier and in each transverse panel is welded to a horizontal beam 39 formed preferably of L 'shaped angle section and rigidly provided at its ends with short vertical legs 40, 41. Disposed horizontally between the legs 40, 41, is a downwardly turned U-shaped channel member 42 which is notched out at its opposite end for slidable engagement with the inwardly turned flanges of the legs 40, 41, so as to be shiftably disposed therebetween for upward and downward vertical movement. The U- shaped member 42 is furthermore provided with rollers 53, which are journaled upon shafts 44. Rockably mounted upon each of the shafts 44 and extending angularly upwardly therefrom are parallel links 45 which are provided at their upper ends with rollers 46 bearing against the downwardly presented margin of the beam 39. The links 45 are connected at their upper ends for parallel movement by a horizontal connecting link 47. The forwardmost link 45 is further provided with a laterally projecting pin 48 for sliding engagement in a slot 49 of an actuating link 50, which is, in turn, rockably pinned at its forward end to a fascia board 51 hinged at its upper end to the under face of a seatboard 52 carried by, and supported in upwardly spaced relation above, the beam 39. The fascia board 51 is provided at suitably spaced intervals along its length with hand-holes 53 so that it may be swung upwardly and outwardly, thereby swinging the link outwardly. As the link 50 approaches its outermost limit of movement the pin 48 will be engaged in the rear end of the slot 49 and the links 45 will be swung forwardly so that the rollers 43 will be shifted downwardly into engagement with the floor. In effect, this operates as an elevating mechanism to lift the entire forward panel or unit of the seating structure upwardly, whereupon, the entire structure may be pushed inwardly to fully telescoped or collapsed position. When the seating structure is either in fully collapsed or fully opened position, the fascia board 51 may be again swung downwardly to vertical position, retracting the rollers 43 so that the legs 40, 41, will rest directly upon the floor and the entire structure thereby rendered immobile.

It should be understood that changes and modificat1 ons in the form, construction, arrangement, and combmat1on of the several parts of the seating structure may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into "fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively 'rearwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means operatively connected to each frame and also connected to an adjacent frame for guiding the movement of the upper ends of the frames along straight parallel paths as the frames are being moved to fully extended position; and a channel member rigidly connected to each of said upright frames adjacent to the lower end thereof, the adjacent channel members being connected so that they slide relatively to each other along their lengths.

2. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding 'movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are'positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means operatively connected to each frame and also connected to an adjacent frame for guiding the movement of the upper channel members including overlapping flange portions,

said overlapping flange portions being adapted to provide lengthwise relative sliding movement of the adjacent channel members.

3. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including upper slide forming means rigidly connected to each frame adjacent the upper end thereof and being slidably connected to an adjacent frame, and a substantially horizontal lower slide member rigidly mounted on the lower end of said upright frames and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said lower slide members being slidably engaged with the lower slide member of the next adjacent frame forwardly thereof for lengthwise sliding movement therealong.

4. A telescopic bleacher in accordance with claim 3 in which the slidable engagement of the lower slide members is formed by means of overlapping flanges mounted on said members.

5. A telescopic bleacher in accordance with claim 3 in which a plurality of said lower slide members are the lower end of each of said frames and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said slide members being slidably engaged, for lengthwise sliding movement, with the slide member of the next adjacent frame which is in forwardly spaced relation thereto; each of said slides including a horizontal foot-member; roller means operatively mounted on each of the foot-members; and spring ,means-interposed between each frame and its associated roller means for holding the frame in upwardly supported rollable disposition upon such roller means when the frame is not loaded.

9. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully provided with roller carriages, roller means operatively mounted in said roller carriages, and spring means associated with each roller carriage for holding the frames in upwardly supported rollable disposition upon the rollers when the frames are not loaded.

6. A telescopic bleacher in accordance with claim 3 in which a plurality of said members are provided at their lower ends with a floor-contacting plate, roller means operatively mounted in each of said plurality of lower slide members, and spring means associated with each roller means for holding the frames in upwardly supported rollable disposition upon such roller means when the frame is not loaded, in which position the floorcontacting plate is also spaced upwardly from the floor.

7. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which'the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including upper slide forming means rigidly connected to each frame adjacent the upper end thereof and being slidably connected to an adjacent frame, and a substantially horizontal lower slide member rigidly mounted on the lower end of each of said upright frames and extending forwardly therefrom, said lower slide members being slidably engaged with the lower slide member of the next adjacent frame forwardly thereof for lengthwise sliding movement therealong, a plurality of said frames being also provided at their lower ends with roller carriages.

8. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively forwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means operatively connected to each frame and also connected to an adjacent frame for guiding the movement of the upper ends of the frames along straight parallel paths as the frames are being moved to fully extended position; a substantially horizontal slide member rigidly mounted on extended position in which the several frames are positioned in-successively forwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means operatively connected to each frame and also connected to an adjacent frame for guiding the movement of the upper ends of the frames along straight parallel paths as the frames are being moved to fully extended position; a substantially horizontal slide member rigidly mounted on the lower end of each of said frames and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said slide members being slidably engaged, for lengthwise sliding movement, with the slide member of the next adjacent frame which is in forwardly spaced relation thereto; each of said slides including a horizontal foot-member, roller means operatively mounted on each of the foot-members, and spring means interposed between each frame and its. associated roller means for holding the frame in upwardly supported rollable disposition upon such roller means when the frame is not loaded, said spring means being disposed at an angle to the frame.

10. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position to fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively forwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means operatively connected to each frame and also connected to an adjacent frame for guiding the movement of the upper ends of the frames along straight parallel paths as the frames are being moved to fully extended position; a substantially horizontal slide member rigidly mounted on the lower end of each of said frames and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said slide members being slidably engaged, for lengthwise sliding movement, with the slide member of the next adjacent frame which is in forwardly spaced relation thereto; each of said slides including a downwardly opening horizontal channel; a roller carriage mounted in each channel for upward and downward shifting movement therein,-and means for biasing the carriage downwardly with respect to the channel.

11. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped,

.and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are posithe next adjacent frame which is in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a plurality of said lower slide members ncluding a downwardly opening horizontal channel having a plurality of angularly disposed parallel slideways; a roller carriage mounted in each channel for upward and downwardly shifting movement in the slideways; and means for biasing the carriage downwardly with respect to the channel.

12. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within another when the structure is fully telescoped, and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively forwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including; upper guide-forming means rigidly connected to each frame adjacent the upper end thereof and being slidably connected to an adjacent frame; a substantially horizontal lower slide member rigidly mounted on the lower end of said upright frames and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said lower slide members being slidably engaged, for lengthwise sliding movement, with the lower slide member of the next adjacent frame which is disposed in forwardly spaced relation thereto, a plurality of said lower slide members including a downwardly opening horizontal channel having a plurality of angularlydisposed parallel slideways; a roller carriage mounted in each channel for upward and downward shifting movement in the slideways; and angularly inclined means for biasing the carriage downwardly with respect to the channel.

13. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upright frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the structure is fully telescoped,

5% and means connecting said frames for relative sliding movement from such fully telescoped position into fully extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, said means including upper slide forming means rigidly connected to each frame adjacent the upper end thereof and being slidably connected to an adjacent frame, and a substantially horizontal lower slide member rigidly connected to each of said upright frames adjacent to the lower end thereof and projecting forwardly from said frame, each of the members being connected to the member on the next adjacent frame forwardly thereof such that the members slide relative to each other along their lengths.

14. A telescopic bleacher in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising roller means operatively mounted at the lower ends of a plurality of said frames, and spring means operatively interposed between each frame and associated roller means for holding said frame in upwardly supported rollable disposition upon such roller means when the frame is not loaded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,373 Wetzel Nov. 13, 1934 2,061,235 Horn Nov. 17, 1936 2,147,564 Vance Feb. 14, 1939 2,183,057 Albach et al Dec. 12, 1939 2,205,624 Horn June 25, 1940 2,663,913 MacKintosh Dec. 29, 1953 2,706,835 Ullom Apr. 26, 1955 

